![]() ![]() However, despite the variety, there is a consensus that listening is a multidimensional and complex process. Since researchers began studying listening in the 1950s (some work even goes back to 1928), many definitions have been advanced. Listening: seems straightforward yet is complex and subtle However, good listening requires time, effort, motivation, skill, and, most importantly, practice. It involves subtle nonverbal and verbal behaviors, as well as an open, curious, and non-judgmental mindset. Being a good listener is challenging and goes beyond resisting the desire to talk. Ten years of research by the first author and more than twenty years of listening training, coaching, and consulting in organizations by the second author has taught us that employees and managers often overestimate their listening abilities and underestimate listening’s importance. With training and a willingness to hone their listening skills, managers can greatly reduce this waste and reap good listening rewards. ![]() For example, the Holmes Report estimates miscommunicating costs organizations $37 billion annually due to omission errors by employees who have misunderstood or were misinformed about company policies, business processes, or job function. Good listening enables more accurate transfer of information, less wasted time, and better use of organizational resources due to fewer misunderstandings. The pragmatic case for effective listening is easy to make. Therefore, the listening training future employees and managers receive is severely deficient. In contrast, two-thirds of them included an oral presentation-learning goal. found that only a tenth of them involved a listening goal. A review of the learning goals of undergraduate-business programs in the U.S.A. A focus on listening is noticeably missing from undergraduate university education as well. Listening skill development is also absent from the education and training of most employees. On the other hand, leaders’ listening behaviors receive far less attention. That is, they often portray leaders in the context of talking. People usually picture strong and influential leaders as those who deliver inspiring speeches, provide clear guidance, and dominate discussions. “Listen with the same passion with which you want to be heard” Harriet Lerner Finally, we offer detailed recommendations for what managers and employees can do to improve their virtual listening skills and practices to support virtual listening. Third, we discuss the challenges of virtual listening by providing specific examples from managers. Second, we present empirical evidence on the dyadic and organizational benefits of listening and listening training. ![]() First, we introduce and define listening. This article is intended to facilitate better virtual listening in the post-pandemic era. We are all seeking to regain equilibrium in our communication. For many, virtual listening feels like dancing backwards in high heels, a bit off balance. She just did it backwards and in high heels.” A similar comparison of the pre and post-pandemic workplace listening is apt. Ann Richards famously contrasted challenges facing men and women, noting, “… Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. In part because we are all learning to do old things in new ways. While listening was never easy in the best of times, it is even more challenging today. However, since COVID-19, these kinds of challenges are now commonplace. This situation would have seemed completely unrealistic just a few months ago. After introducing the project’s goals, you realize you were muted and need to start over. During the meeting, several people turn the cameras off. You also see a side conversation in the chat room that has nothing to do with the meeting topic. Three other employees are working from their bedrooms, the only private place in their apartments. This is because their kids use the family’s laptops for virtual school. You notice two team members have joined by smartphones rather than computers. The meeting was scheduled for 15:00 p.m., but due to technical problems, it starts at 15:15. You are preparing for a team discussion about an important project.
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